This Week In Potomac

Beginning this winter, neighborhood, local, stream valley and conservation parks operated by the Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning will be subject to the “Carry-in, Carry-out” program for trash removal. Cabin John, Rock Creek, Little Bennett, Black Hill and Wheaton Regional Parks, Fairland, Damascus, South Germantown, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ridge Road Recreational Parks, and Ovid Hazen Wells Special Park will be exempt from the policy.

On December 1, 2003, trash cans will be removed from all parks subject to the policy. By bringing bags or other containers to carry trash out of the park, visitors will help park management improve the park environment and manage solid waste.

Until the plan is implemented, trash cans in these parks will display signs with the campaign theme: “Enjoy your stay! Please take trash away!”

The program is expected to reduce dumping costs, redirect limited personnel into other work, and remove a source of litter by birds and other animals.

Similar “Carry-in, Carry-out” programs are already implemented within Maryland’s state parks, the National Park Service’s C & 0 Canal National Historical Park, and selected parks in the City of Rockville.

Enforcement will also increase against those who use public parks for illegal dumping. Sightings of illegal dumping on public parkland should be reported at 240-777-7770 or the Park Police at 301-949-3010.

For more information, visit www.mcparkandplanning.org.

Strong Arm Robbery

On July 16 at approximately 8 p.m., a 19-year-old male was waiting for a bus at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A man asked him for a dollar for the bus. The victim gave the suspect a dollar. As the victim was getting on the bus, he removed his wallet to get his money for the fare. The suspect then grabbed the victim’s money and fled on Westlake Drive towards Tuckerman Lane. The suspect is described as a black male with black hair, wearing a white or gray T-shirt, khaki pants and a sweat band, 20-25 years old, 6’2” tall, and weighing 180 pounds.

Commercial Burglary

* Between 11 a.m. on July 12 and 7:30 a.m. on July 14, Squire, Lemkin, O’Brien on 6001 Montrose Road in Rockville was broken into. Suspects pried the door lock and took laptop computers.

* Between 2 p.m. on July 18 and 6:45 a.m. on July 21, Carderock Springs Elementary School on Persimmon Tree Terrace was broken into. The door was broken through and power lawn tools were taken.

Residential Burglary

* Between midnight and 7:15 a.m. on July 15, a house on the 9300 block of Cranford Drive in Potomac was broken into. Suspects entered an unlocked door and took jewelry and a laptop computer.

* Between 8:30 p.m. on July 13 and 8 a.m. on July 14, suspects entered the unlocked garage door of a house on the 9300 block of Cranford Drive in Potomac and took golf equipment.

* Between an unknown time on July 6 and 1:31 p.m. on July 20, a house on the 8200 block of Kingsgate Road in Potomac was broken into. Suspects entered an open garage and took a vehicle.

* At 5:08 p.m. on July 16, suspects entered the open garage of a house on the 11400 block of Highland Farm Drive in Potomac. The suspects took a motorcycle.

* Between 7:50 and 7:56 p.m. on July 20,a home on the 14800 block was broken into. the window was lifted, but nothing was taken.

* At 5:08 p.m. on July 16, a home on the 11400 block of Highland Farm Drive was broken into. Suspects entered through the garage door and took a motorcycle.

Always Lock Vehicles

Officers in Montgomery County’s 1st District want to remind citizens of the importance of locking their vehicles and garage doors.

Since the middle of June, there have been seven residential burglaries through an open and/or unlocked garage door and five thefts from unlocked vehicles, all in the North Potomac area. Suspects entering homes have taken laptop computers, sporting equipment such as golf clubs, and tools. Items stolen from vehicles included money, clothing, an emergency road kit, golf clubs, cameras, and a hand-held global positioning system.

Although these crimes have occurred in one community, this type of criminal activity happens throughout the county. Crime prevention information can be found on the Montgomery County Police website. Log onto www.montgomerycountymd.gov, click on Departments, and then click on Police. When the police website appears, click on Crime Prevention listed on the left-hand side of the webpage.

Three Suspects Arrested for Burglary

Montgomery County Police officers arrested three suspects for a burglary in Rockville which had connections to a store in Montgomery Mall. Jean Thomas Dennie, 32, of Wheaton, Carla Jean Dennie, 32 of Wheaton, and Michael Anthony Houston, 35, of Silver Spring were charged with First Degree Burglary, Fourth Degree Burglary, and Theft Over $500.

According to Montgomery County Police, a home in the 800 block of Grand Champion Way in Rockville was broken into on July 18 at 9 p.m. Police state that the suspects entered a locked garage and stole 12 pairs of New Balance tennis shoes.

Police state that on July 19, the victim notified Nordstrom at Montgomery Mall of the burglary and theft, and, that same day, Dennie entered Nordstrom and attempted to return seven pairs of the stolen shoes. Store employees did not accept the shoes, for the suspect did not have a receipt or the shoes’ original boxes. The suspect then left the store.

Police allege that some time later, he returned with the shoes in their original boxes, and received money in exchange for the shoes. As he attempted to leave the store, Nordstrom Loss Prevention officers detained him.

Police state that two additional suspects were waiting in a car outside of the store. Officers stopped the vehicle and placed the three suspects under arrest.

Anniversary Cruise

Tom Phillips, chairman and president of Potomac-based Phillips International, will take his employees and their families on an expense-paid three-night Disney Cruise Line vacation to celebrate the company’s 30th Anniversary. The trip will also include the employees of Eagle Publishing, Inc., a Washington, DC-based publishing company owned by Tom Phillips. Over 1,300 people will attend, according to the company.

The company’s “Disney Day” festivities on Friday, Aug. 1 will build excitement for the cruise aboard the Disney Wonder from Sept. 4-7. The event will feature a pep talk from Tom Phillips, a contest featuring employees dressed in Disney-themed garb, a contest were employees compete to best decorate their office space with Disney and cruise-themed items, and Disney-related trivia contests and raffles.

Board of Education Seeks Nominees

The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominations from the public for its seventh annual award for distinguished service to public education. The Board sponsors the awards to recognize individuals, groups, and organizations that have made exemplary contributions to public education in the county.

Up to three awards will be given in each of the following categories: business individual/organization, community individual, community group/organization, Montgomery County Public Schools staff, and individual pioneer.

“Pioneer award” nominees are individuals whose past contributions have had a profound effect on the school system over a sustained period of time.

Nominations in other categories must be of individuals, groups, or organizations that have, within the past three years, provided service, support, and commitment to public education. Nominees must have demonstrated an outstanding contribution of time and expertise to school system programs, developed and/or implemented an exemplary program or project, or made a contribution that resulted in systemwide benefit.

Any person or group may submit nominations.

Forms may be obtained from local schools or the Carver Educational Services Center (Room 112 or 123). Additional forms are available on the MCPS website at www.mcps.k12.md.us. To receive a nomination form by mail, call 301-279-3301.

The Potomac Chamber of Commerce is starting its search for nominees for Businessperson of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Youth of the Year for 2003.

These awards are given annually by the Potomac Chamber of Commerce and are presented annually at the Potomac Day Parade, this year scheduled for Oct. 25.

Businessperson of the year must work or do business in Potomac (20854 zip code), be a member of the Potomac Chamber and must have benefited the community. Citizen of the year can be a private citizen or organization that has benefited the local, regional or national community. Youth of the year must live or attend high school in Potomac. Youths must be nominated by their school principals or counselors.

Nomination forms and guidelines may be obtained from Fred Goldman 301-294-0007, fax 301-294-9055. The deadline for entries is Sept. 26.